The Wonder Down Under: New South Wales Golf Club in Australia

LA PEROUSE, New South Wales, Australia - New South Wales Golf Club will always be a bridesmaid to Royal Melbourne when it comes Dr. Alister Mackenzie courses in Australia.

Sometimes, the bridesmaid is more beautiful than the bride.

All the major world rankings - by Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and top100golfcourses.com - consider Royal Melbourne's West course to be among the top 10 courses in the world. It's hard to compete with a legendary venue that just held its third successful Presidents Cup, but New South Wales can, ranking between 33-46 in the world. If scenery is a deciding factor, then New South Wales reigns supreme.

The linksy course members call "La Perouse" has a charm all its own, overlooking Botany Bay just south of Sydney. It's wily and wild with surprises at every turn within the Kamay Botany Bay National Park. Although the Mackenzie ties are celebrated, it's actually Eric Apperly who executed important enhancements in the 1930s, including the addition of the stunning par-3 sixth over the inlet of Cape Banks. This magical moment comes after the greatest reveal in golf - the walk up the fifth fairway leading to the rocky shore below.

The water views become a focal point again when players turn left on the dogleg 13th, the first of an epic run of four score-busting par 4s, all dramatic and memorable in their own way.

New South Wales has hosted the Australian Open just once, won by Aussie Adam Scott in 2009. Greg Norman (2010) and more recently Tom Doak have tweaked the 6,245-meter (6,830-yard) course in the modern era. Doak is specifically looking to refine the penal par-3 17th and heavily bunkered par-5 18th. The integrity of the layout will remain intact. It's already a coveted classic.

Visitor play is available after noon Monday, Thursday afternoon from 12:30-1:45 and Friday morning from 8:10-11:20.